Philippines drops case against Love virus suspect

[William Knowles <wk () C4I ORG>]

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-2033336.html?tag=st.ne.1430735..ni

By Reuters
Special to CNET News.com
June 7, 2000, 10:15 a.m. PT

MANILA--Philippine authorities said today they had dropped a case
against a bank worker suspected of involvement in the "Love Bug"
virus, which caused billions of dollars in damage to computers around
the world.

Senior state prosecutor Jaafar Dimaampao said there was no law that
could be used to prosecute 27-year-old Reonel Ramones.

"As far as Ramones is concerned, the case is closed," Dimaampao told
reporters.

The prosecutor said the National Bureau of Investigation could not
produce the extra evidence ordered by a court to allow a case against
the man to proceed under the Access Device Act.

The act deals with illegal use of passwords for credit cards or bank
accounts for money.

Ramones was arrested by NBI agents after a preliminary investigation
of the origin of the Love Bug led to a flat he shared with his
girlfriend.

He was later freed by the Justice Department due to lack of evidence
but was made to face criminal charges.

Ramones claimed it was a case of mistaken identity.

The NBI has identified other possible suspects, including computer
school dropout Onel de Guzman.

De Guzman's lawyer said his client may have accidentally sent out the
virus.

NBI and Justice Department officials did not say if they would bring
any charges against other suspects.

The computer virus, which appeared in emails titled "I Love You,"
destroyed user files, stole passwords and passed itself on through the
address books of affected computers.

It hit major agencies around the world, including the U.S. Pentagon
and the British parliament.


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